Michael Dunlop hoisted aloft the famous trophy named after his legendary uncle Joey after being crowned the Irish Motorcyclist of the Year at the Adelaide Irish Motorbike Awards in Belfast on Friday night.
It was the second time the Ballymoney rider claimed the top accolade at the event after he was selected for the honour 10 years ago following a second successive four-timer at the Isle of Man TT in 2014.
The 35-year-old toasted a double on the night when he was also named the International Road Racer of the Year at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Dunlop took over from Northern Ireland sporting icon Joey as the most decorated competitor in history at the TT last summer, winning four races for a second consecutive year to extend his tally to a remarkable 29 since his breakthrough triumph in 2009.
He equalled Joey’s benchmark of 26 wins in the opening Supersport race and went on to write a new chapter in TT history when he won the first Supertwin event for his 27th success.
Dunlop wrapped up doubles in the Supersport and Supertwin classes and was only denied a five-timer when a visor problem cost him a commanding lead in the Superbike TT.
Son and father award winners – Michael and Scott Swann
Nonetheless, he clocked the fastest lap of last year’s TT at 135.97mph on the Hawk Racing Honda as he battled back to fourth position after stopping to fix the issue at the start of the fifth lap.
Joey won his final three races at the TT in 2000 to set the standard around the infamous Mountain Course and many felt it was a record that may never be broken.
However, his nephew has further enhanced the legacy of the revered Dunlop motorcycling dynasty and Dunlop remains fully committed to winning more trophies at the world’s premier motorcycle road race.
At a homecoming parade to honour his achievements in Ballymoney, Dunlop said: “We’re from a small town but a big family within road racing and we’re trying to keep it at the top, and that’s what it’s been all about.
“It’s more of a personal thing to try and keep it in the family more than anything but to get past that (Joey’s record of wins) is a privilege.
“We’re not any better than Joey, we’ve never perceived that, and with our name it hasn’t been an easy lifestyle, so for me to keep the name at the top is what keeps pushing me to keep going racing.
“It’s been something that everybody strives to have and this year, winning the first Supersport race to equal Joey’s record was a massive thing.
“I genuinely, honestly thought I had the Superbike race too; I was leading it and then my visor malfunctioned, so I just thought it was never going to be broken. But we came back and the boys worked hard to get us on the grid and pushed again, and to break it was more to keep the Dunlop name going.”
Phil Marron was the winner of the IFS Special Recognition Award
On the biggest night for UK and Irish motorcycling, 12-time Irish champion Michael Swann was inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame.
His son, Scott, won the BSB Breakthrough Award in memory of four-time British champion Keith Farmer after finishing third in last year’s National Superstock 1000 Championship, winning five races.
Ulster team TAS Racing picked up the Team of the Year award after Davey Todd clinched the National Superstock 1000 title and secured Superstock and Senior wins at the TT, plus a treble at the North West 200.
Jack Kennedy from Dublin was named Short Circuit Rider of the Year on UK circuits following his fifth British Supersport title success.
Lisburn’s Jonny Campbell won the equivalent award for Irish circuits after he secured the Ulster Superbike Championship for the first time.
The North West 200 was proclaimed the Event of the Year while Moneyglass man Phil Marron received the Special Recognition nod for his role as crew chief to Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu, who won an historic World Superbike Championship for BMW in 2024 after moving from Yamaha.
Adelaide Irish Motorcyclist of the Year
Michael Dunlop
Zerofit Short Circuit Rider of the Year – UK circuits
Jack Kennedy
Kawasaki Young Rider of the Year
Sophie Ferguson
Kerr’s Tyres Group Team of the Year
TAS Racing
Classic Bike Festival Ireland International Road Racer of the Year
Michael Dunlop
Bayview Hotel Short Circuit Rider of the Year – Irish Circuits
Johnny Campbell
Arbutus Catering Female Trailblazer of the Year
Nicole Lynch
Racking Shelving Off Road Rider of the Year
Jay McCrum
A McLean Bookmakers Race of the Year
Glenn Irwin beats Davey Todd to secure a history-making 11th Superbike victory in a row at the NW200.
Belfast Chauffeur Hire Event of the Year
Briggs Equipment North West 200
Pride and Pinion Hall of Fame
Michael Swann
IFS Special Recognitions Award
Phil Marron
BSB Breakthrough Award in Memory of Keith Farmer
Scott Swann
Greenlight TV King of the Roads
Davey Todd